New ways to vote will be studied

Not only did under-25s fail to vote in significant numbers, but only 21% of the next age group, 25-to-34 year olds, exercised their democratic rights.

The Electoral Commission ordered the research because it wants to find out why so few people voted in the Welsh elections.

Turnout fell to 38% in 2003, down from 46% in 1999 and 59.4% at the 2001 general election.

The study found that people aged over 55 were much better at voting, with 56% choosing to go to the polls.

The scale of young people's disaffection with the polls is considered startling.

The Electoral Commission wants to understand the reason for the low turnout in May's poll

Younger people were also more ignorant of what the assembly had done, the powers it had and the voting system for it.

The most common reason given for not voting was being "too busy".

Four-in-10 of those asked said they would be more likely to participate if postal, telephone or internet voting was available.

Electoral Commissioner Glyn Mathias said: "Clearly the role and importance of the National Assembly has to be better communicated to the people who are expected to vote in its elections.

"The research does provide some encouraging news for those piloting the introduction of new voting mechanisms.

"This is another area which the Commission will be studying in the coming months."

The study was carried out by NOP during the three days following polling day and involved telephone interviewing of 1,153 adults in Wales.